-Leads to changesin volume of ocean water.-Ice sheets floating on the surface of ocean do not cause change in ocean volumeàhave already displaced water.-But it is ice situated above sea level/on land that causes the problem and increases the volume of water.-IPCC 3rdreport – contribute 10-230mm between 1990-2100.

Glacio-IsostaticAdjustments:

-Post-glacial rebound- rising land that was previously compressed by the weight of glacier (some can be 3km thick).-Viscoelastic mantle displaced underneath.-Around edges of former glacier- bulging of land massesàland now sinking (subsidence)àexperiencing elevated SLR than other areas.

Ocean circulation changes:

-Regional rather than global effects.-Circulation caused by differences in density, temperature and salinity of ocean water.-E.g. weakening/shut down of Atlantic over-turning circulationà1m increase in SL.-Compared to other factorsàcontribute more rapidly.-Ocean isn’t flat (series of hills and depressions due to Coriolis force and geostrophic flows)àAtlantic associated with a particularly low level of water.Circulation weakened = depression could rise rapidly.

Earlier mitigation processes are started and implemented on a large scale, sooner the benefits will be feltàless need to invest in extreme-adaptation strategies.

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Climate Inertia

Delay in the response of theC Systemàbenefits in place now wont be felt until later.

Emissions stabilised now = still gradual increase in temp. for next few centuries.

-Thermal expansion will continue.-Glaciers will continue to melt.

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IPCC 3rd Report Emissions Scenarios

No matter what emissions scenario the world develops for itself, sea level will continue to rise regardless.

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Socio-Economic Inertia

Situation made worse:

-Thereis unwillingness to change – as well as climate inertia, there is also political inertia.-Means that global economy so reliant on GHG polluting, it does not want to make large-scale changes to greener technologies (major drawbacks in ST economics).

If the warming observed now is a consequence of past actions, then pollution today will mean warming continues into the far future.

Means SLR will continue.

Means that mitigation alone is not effective. And in a world that is unwilling to mitigate, adaptation may be the best way forward.